Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, H.R. 1217 is an attack on public health and disease prevention in this country. The prevention fund is our first national proactive, strategic commitment to changing the focus of our health care system from one of treatment to one of keeping Americans healthy.

This change in focus is essential, because keeping people healthy improves

the quality of their lives and that of their family, and it is our best means of controlling preventable chronic diseases, which account for seven out of 10 deaths and 75 percent of our Nation's annual health care costs, totaling $1.7 trillion.

If H.R. 1217 passes, we lose a critical opportunity to control health care costs and we lose the opportunity to reduce unnecessary suffering and death from preventable chronic diseases. Adding to the assault of H.R. 1217 on public health and prevention is the FY 2011 continuing resolution which cuts CDC's budget by over $700 million.

The result of these proposals is that millions of Americans will needlessly continue to suffer from preventable chronic diseases, costly treatments and costly hospitalizations. Prevention saves lives and prevention saves money. Defeat H.R. 1217 and continue to build a healthier America.

Mr. Speaker, the first week of April is National Public Health Week.

This year's theme, ``Safety is No Accident: Live Injury-Free,'' highlights the fact that, each year, nearly 30 million people in our country are injured severely enough to require emergency room treatment. Of those injured, 150,000 die from these unintentional and often preventable injuries, which are ranked among the top 10 causes of death of those between the ages of 1 and 44. In addition to the devastating impact on families and communities, these injuries account for 12 percent of annual medical spending in the United States, totaling as much as $65 billion each year.

These statistics highlight a critical public health challenge for the 21st century. For that reason, I introduced H. Res. 187, which recognizes the first week of April as National Public Health Week, and it calls on all Americans to take a proactive approach to addressing injuries in our country. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor H. Res. 187.

Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this continuing resolution because it ignores the needs of America's families and does nothing to create jobs, strengthen the middle class, or effectively lower the deficit.

The $1.3 billion cut to community health centers is astounding. In my district alone, if these cuts are enacted, over 112,000 individuals will suffer a significant loss in primary health services, and they will be forced to use costly hospital emergency care. Nationally, these cuts mean health centers will be unable to serve 11 million patients over the next year. It means 127 new health centers in underserved districts will lose their funds. And it means the loss of thousands of health care jobs.

Also on the chopping block is the title X program, which provides over 8,000 men and women in my district with reproductive health care and cancer screening. Nationally, the $317 million cut to title X will force many clinics to close, eliminating another primary care safety net for 5 million men and women.

Also unbelievable is the $210 million in proposed cuts to the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant program. This cut will devastate primary and preventive health services in California for an estimated 2.6 million pregnant women, infants, and special needs children.

The cuts also endanger other critical programs such as California's newborn screening program, which last year tested almost 550,000 newborns for treatable genetic and metabolic diseases, which if undetected could have become painful and life threatening. On the national level, these cuts in MCH grants will reduce or eliminate prenatal health services for 2 million women and primary health care for more than 17 million children. In a country that ranks far behind almost all other developed nations in maternal and infant outcomes, we can ill-afford to slash funding for the only Federal program that focuses solely on improving the health of mothers and their babies.

Madam Chair, this bill is a Trojan horse that pretends to address our Nation's deficit crisis at the expense of the most vulnerable among us. This bill is not worthy of this House, for it fails to honor the true priorities and values of the American people, and I urge my colleagues to join me in rejecting this irresponsible resolution.

Offered By: Ms. Roybal-Allard

Amendment No. 124: Page 287, line 12, after the dollar

amount, insert ``(reduced by $250,000) (increased by

$250,000)''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Retirement Housing Foundation--also known as RHF--on the occasion of the organization's 50th anniversary of providing quality and affordable housing and services to more than 17,000 seniors, low-income families and people with disabilities.

With a strong mission to provide dignified, affordable housing and services for the elderly, RHF is one of the nation's largest non-profit

sponsors and managers of housing and services for older adults, persons with disabilities, and low-income families.

RHF was formed in 1961 by three visionaries: two California United Church of Christ clergymen and one layman. The organization, which began with a $7,000 grant, today operates 161 communities in 25 states throughout the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. While these communities are comprised of mostly apartments, RHF also provides senior housing with assisted living units and skilled nursing beds.

A total of four RHF communities are located within the 34th District. The Rio Vista Village for low-income families is located in Boyle Heights. RHF operates three communities for low-income seniors: Colonia Jess Lopez in Boyle Heights, which is named after a strong community activist and outspoken advocate of older Americans whom I was proud to call a friend; Sangnok Villa in Westlake; and Angelus Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles.

During my years in Congress, I have had the privilege of working closely with RHF as a member of the Advisory Council for Angelus Plaza--the nation's largest affordable housing community for seniors in the country. Angelus Plaza is the only facility of its kind in the country. Covering two city blocks and two postal zip codes, it has nearly 1,100 apartments. Angelus Plaza is home to 1,300 independent seniors whose average age is 82.

RHF prides itself on its culturally diverse programs and services offered to Angelus Plaza's residents who speak more than 10 different languages. Angelus Plaza's six-story senior center offers more than 100 monthly classes and activities for seniors throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area. The complex also houses the Tom Bradley Senior Health Center (operated by Good Samaritan Hospital) as well as a continuation high school operated by the L.A. Unified School District and office space for more than 10 non-profit organizations and senior groups.

In addition, RHF continues to partner with local organizations and government agencies to secure support and funding for affordable housing throughout the country. RHF preserves properties within the HUD inventory by acquiring those properties in danger of becoming market rate.

RHF also reinvests in its own properties to ensure that they remain viable affordable communities for decades to come. In the last five years, RHF invested more than $95.9 million to rehabilitate and update existing communities.

RHF takes its role as an affordable housing advocate seriously. As a respected national voice in this area, Dr. Laverne Joseph, RHF's President and CEO, has testified before various Congressional Committees about a variety of affordable housing-related issues.

Mr. Speaker, as the organization prepares to mark its 50-year milestone at a special February 18 anniversary celebration at their annual conference in Downtown Long Beach, I ask my colleagues to please join the Los Angeles County community and me in recognizing the Retirement Housing Foundation for its steadfast commitment to providing quality, safe and affordable housing and services for America's seniors, low-income families and persons with disabilities.

I also commend RHF's Board Chair, Don King, its National Board of Directors, its President & CEO, Dr. Joseph and the 2,600 dedicated staff throughout the country who make this organization the safety net that it is today for thousands of America's most vulnerable residents and I wish them many more years of continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Japanese American National Museum, the private nonprofit national institution dedicated to sharing the experiences of Americans of Japanese ancestry in the United States.

Located in the historic Little Tokyo district of Downtown Los Angeles in the 34th Congressional District, I had the privilege of nominating the Japanese American National Museum for an especially prestigious honor. The Institute of Museums and Library Services bestowed upon the museum its National Medal in recognition of the museum's ``extraordinary civic, educational, economic, environmental, and social contributions.'' The museum was one of only 10 institutions in 2010 to receive the institute's National Medal--America's highest honor for museums. The Japanese American National Museum is only the second museum located in California to be recognized with this national distinction.

The concept for the museum originated more than 25 years ago when members of the Japanese American community realized that their families' storied history was being lost to time. The families especially wanted to preserve for future generations the stories of the tremendous hardships endured by Japanese Americans during World War II. During this time, thousands of Japanese American families lost their homes, their businesses and most of what they owned when the United States Government unconscionably incarcerated them in detention camps.

Despite this injustice, many Japanese Americans responded to the military needs of our country during World War II with great patriotic fervor. The famed 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team--made up almost entirely of Japanese Americans--became the most decorated units for their size and length of service in the history of our Armed Forces. In addition, Japanese Americans who became members of the United States Military Intelligence Service during World War II saved thousands of American lives by using their Japanese- language skills to serve our country as translators, interrogators and code breakers in the Pacific Theatre.

In 1985, the museum was founded as an almost all-volunteer organization composed of 13 different committees and only one full-time staff member with no permanent site and no endowment. In 1992, the museum renovated an important historic building for their headquarters and then expanded to a modern Pavilion in 1999. Throughout this time, the Japanese American National Museum became the repository of the history of people of Japanese ancestry in the United States, collecting more than 80,000 artifacts, photographs, documents and ephemera (such as letters, posters, and newspaper articles) that help to preserve and share their stories with all Americans.

An average of 25,000 students annually make visits to the Japanese American National Museum, guided by volunteers who lived through much of this amazing history. Visitors to the museum learn about the commonalities of the Japanese American experience with that of other ethnic groups in our country as part of the museum's core exhibition entitled, ``Common Ground: The Heart of Community.''

The museum's new exhibition entitled, ``Fighting for Democracy: Who is the 'We' in 'We, the People'?'' features profiles of seven people of various backgrounds and ethnicities who actively supported the American war effort, but who also wanted our democracy to truly serve all the people in the post-World War II era. This exhibition has traveled to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, the National Archives and the Tuskegee National Institute Historic Site in Alabama.

The museum also organized a five-state educational project entitled, ``Enduring Communities: The Japanese American Experience in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah.'' The 3-year project--which involved local institutions within each state--culminated with a national conference in Denver in 2008 attended by teachers, scholars and the people from the communities who lived this history.

Mr. Speaker, in recognition of the museum's 25th Anniversary and its receipt of the Institute of Museums and Library Services' National Medal, I ask my congressional colleagues to please join me and the residents of the 34th Congressional District in congratulating the Japanese American National Museum for its extraordinary achievements. I congratulate Museum President and CEO Akemi Kikumura Yano, the members of the museum's Board of Governors and Board of Trustees and all of the community members whose dedication to preserving the Japanese American story make the museum the local and national treasure that it is today. I wish the museum and everyone involved in its growth and educational mission many more years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, today, millions of Americans have more freedom to choose and control their health care as a result of the Affordable Care Act.

In my congressional district, nearly 40 percent of my constituents were uninsured. Thousands more were underinsured and living on the brink of financial disaster when facing a serious illness or accident. With health care reform, positive change is taking place for them and for individuals, families, and small businesses throughout the country.

Young adults are grateful they can remain on their parents' insurance until age 26; seniors living in fear of not being able to afford their medications are thankful for discounts on brand-name drugs when reaching the doughnut hole; families with preexisting conditions are comforted by the new high-risk insurance pool; and those facing serious illness are relieved their insurers can no longer drop them when they need coverage the most.

Small businesses, which abound in my district and which are a mainstay in our Latino and minority communities, can take advantage of tax credits to offer health insurance to their employees.

A 2009 study by MIT economist Jonathan Gruber found that, without reform, over the next decade employers will pay trillions of dollars in employee health costs; will potentially cut 170,000 small business jobs; and will lose $51.2 billion in profits. That is why John Arensmeyer, founder and CEO of the Small Business Majority, supports health care reform.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 2 will hurt small business. It will repeal the freedoms and protections Americans now have, and it will return control of their health care to the insurance companies.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the late John A. ``Jack'' Kyser. Born in Huntington Park in the 34th Congressional District, he was a leader in the community and someone who was often called ``the voice'' or ``the guru'' of the Los Angeles economy. Mr. Kyser passed away unexpectedly on December 6 at the age of 76 at his home in Downey, CA.

As the ``go to'' economy expert in Los Angeles County, Mr. Kyser was respected and admired by a diverse group of people--from industry experts to television viewers--who appreciated his ability to make complicated facts and figures understandable as well as his in-depth knowledge about the local and national economy.

Mr. Speaker, as my fellow Angelenos prepare to attend his memorial service on January 12 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, I ask my colleagues to please join me in recognizing Mr. Kyser's lifetime contributions to Los Angeles and the Southern California region.

To further pay respect to him, I would like to submit into the Congressional Record excerpts from the following December 7 Los Angeles Times obituary which provides a thorough and touching overview of Mr. Kyser's life and many accomplishments.

John A. `Jack' Kyser Dies at 76; Expert on L.A. Economy

(By Roger Vincent and Hugo Martin)

John A. ``Jack'' Kyser, the dean of Los Angeles economists

who spoke as an expert on Southern California to observers

around the world, has died. He was 76.

Kyser devoted his long career to focusing on the workings

of the region's economy. As the former chief economist of the

Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. he was in

steady demand as a speaker at business events and a reliable

source who was quick with an insightful quote for reporters

on deadline.

``Jack was truly the authority on L.A'.s economy,'' said

Mark Liberman, president of LA Inc., the Los Angeles

Convention and Visitors Bureau. ``If he said it, you knew it

was true, because his voice influenced every projection about

L.A.'s economy.''

Kyser moved among the business elite but often spoke

comfortably of his humble upbringing in working-class Downey.

He was born April 20, 1934, in Huntington Park and raised

in Vernon and Downey, where he lived much of his life.

Kyser earned a bachelor of science degree in 1955 and an

MBA in 1968 from USC, but was not formally trained as an

economist. His street-level knowledge of the local economy

was unsurpassed, though, and helped make him a confidant to

the powerful.

``Generations of leaders in L.A.--including mayors,

councilmen and governors--relied on him as an advisor and

counselor, and benefitted from his wisdom,'' said Bill Allen,

chief executive of the Los Angeles County Economic

Development Corp.

Kyser found work after his undergraduate years as a

forecaster for Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, but was laid

off four years later during an economic downturn. He found

paid work anchoring a news show at a local public radio

station where he had been volunteering.

Kyser returned to Southern California in about a year to

work for United California Bank, then spent eight years as an

economist with the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Kyser

began with the economic development corporation in 1991, when

it had no economics research department.

Kyser retired from the economic development organization in

June, but returned to the public eye almost immediately as an

economic spokesman for the Southern California Assn. of

Governments.

Kyser's opinions were sought because ``he had

credibility,'' said Carol Schatz, president of the Central

City Assn., a Los Angeles business advocacy group. ``He

remained independent through the political pressure that

plays a role with economic forecasting.''

The president of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment

Commission, Kathryn Schloessman, said Kyser ``was the person

our industry went to when asked about economic impact of

anything happening in this city. He was a Los Angeles

treasure.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 2925, the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act.

It is fitting that as one of the last acts of this Congress which has done so much to aid the most vulnerable in our society, we are considering legislation that would protect children from sex traffickers.

Tragically, this heinous crime is becoming more common with as many as 100,000 young people trafficked every year within our borders.

To address this heartbreaking trend, the legislation before us authorizes a comprehensive grant program to identify and assist victims and strengthens the National Crime Information Center, NCIC, database that enables law enforcement officials to track missing and exploited children.

These commonsense steps will make a real difference in the lives of thousands of kids who have experienced unimaginable ordeals.

S. 2925 mirrors House legislation authored by my colleagues Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Congressman Chris Smith. I applaud their hard work on behalf of these forgotten young people and commend them for their leadership in devising smart solutions to fight the scourge of child prostitution in America.

The Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act will significantly augment our efforts to help children traumatized by the worst kind of criminal act and I urge its swift passage.

In an era characterized by bitter partisanship, it is exceedingly gratifying for me that members of this body can still reach across the aisle and stand together in defense of children caught in perilous circumstances.

It is my sincere hope that next year we can come together in the same spirit of bipartisanship to help young people apprehended along our southern border.

Mr. Chair, it is with a great deal of regret that I will vote against H.R. 4853, the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act.

Reaching this decision has not been easy because President Obama fought for and succeeded in getting several provisions into this bill which I wholeheartedly support.

Among those provisions is the extension of unemployment insurance for millions of American families who through no fault of their own have lost their jobs, the child tax credit, the middle class tax cuts, the earned income tax credit and tax breaks for small business. These were major victories for President Obama.

My concern is that the provisions in the bill demanded by Republicans come at too high a price and impact the future well being of our country and our children. Based on the calls I have received, the majority of my constituents agree.

According to economists the demands by Republicans to give the 6,600 wealthiest Americans a tax break of $23 billion will do nothing to stimulate our economy or create one job.

What this one provision alone will do, however, is increase our out of control deficit by another 8 percent. This is irresponsible and will make it even more difficult for our country to stop mortgaging our future to China; a mortgage which will ultimately fall on the backs of our children and our grandchildren in the years to come.

I also have a deep concern about this bill's impact on Social Security. My fear has to do with the 2 percent reduction in employee contributions to Social Security which has the potential to destroy the guaranteed safety net which keeps millions of older and disabled Americans out of poverty.

While this provision is intended to be temporary, I have learned in my 18 years in Washington that tax cuts are seldom temporary. It is always easier to cut taxes than it is to restore them as this very bill demonstrates.

The Social Security payroll tax provides an independent revenue stream which keeps Social Security from contributing to our nation's budget deficit and outside of the budget process.

If the payroll tax is not restored, which I believe is likely with a Republican majority in the House, Social Security would become dependent on the general fund for revenue.

This would threaten the safety net for seniors and the disabled by making it vulnerable to budget cuts and competition with other essential programs like veterans benefits and safety net programs for children.

By doing this, we could be sowing the seeds for the privatization of Social Security.

Therefore, while this bill does provide short term relief, the potential long term suffering and negative impact of this bill are too high a price to pay.

I cannot in good conscience support this bill with the potential long term negative impact on Social Security and the unnecessary increased burden the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans will put on the shoulders of our children and grandchildren.

I am saddened that my Republican colleagues demanded these irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans in exchange for the very critical provisions of this bill supported by the President. While I am heartened that we are acting to extend unemployment insurance and protect those still struggling to find work, there is too much in this bill that only adds to our already uncontrollable deficit and does nothing to help our economy or create jobs.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5987, the Seniors Protection Act.

H.R. 5987 would provide a one-time payment of $250 to 54 million American seniors, retired and disabled veterans, and disabled individuals.

Due to low inflation rates, there has not been a COLA, or cost of living adjustment, in an unprecedented two years. But that doesn't mean America's seniors aren't hurting. In the absence of a COLA this modest payment will help America's seniors weather these tough economic times.

In today's economy seniors are confronted by loss of pension income and retirement savings, high prescription drug costs, and reduced access to affordable housing.

While Republican politicians turn a blind eye to seniors and defend America's millionaires club, the leaders in the Democratic Party continue to work for the dignity of older Americans.

The Seniors Protection Act is another effort in the time tested tradition of the Democratic Party defending the rights and interests of America's senior citizens.

We are the party that established Medicare and Social Security, and last year instituted the Seniors Task Force to continue the work the Democrats have done on behalf of seniors.

If not for Social Security assistance, more than 13 million low- income elderly Americans would fall into destitution.

With so many seniors this close to the poverty line, you can be sure that this payment--while small--will have a significant impact on the economic security of millions.

Aside from the import this will have on America's seniors, studies show that disbursements of this nature are a very effective economic stimulus.

When Social Security beneficiaries received $250 payments as part of the 2009 Recovery Act, 125,000 jobs were created or saved.

We have an opportunity here to make immediate, tangible improvements to both the lives of millions of seniors and the American economy. Please join me, and my colleagues on the Seniors Task Force in supporting H.R. 5987--The Seniors Protection Act.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, DREAM Act youth are not criminals and bear no responsibility for the actions of adults who brought them here illegally as children. Raised in the United States, they have the same American values and love of our country as children born here. Sadly, because of the actions of others, they live in fear of deportation from the only home they know.

The DREAM Act, which is not amnesty, will help correct this unfairness. With stringent criteria to qualify for legal status and a 10-year requirement toward earned citizenship, the bill would remove impediments so our country can benefit from their talents and enhanced contributions to our country. In fact, a recent UCLA study found DREAM- eligible students have

the potential to earn $1.4 trillion in additional income that could help fuel our country's economic growth over the next four decades.

Mr. Speaker, we are a country that values children, not one that punishes them for the wrongdoing of their elders. Yet that is exactly what is happening to these children today.

I urge my colleagues to support the DREAM Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th anniversary of Calvary Baptist Church in Bellflower in the 34th Congressional District. I ask my colleagues to please join me along with the church's pastor, Dr. Michael Melton Kalapp, and his nearly 800 parishioners, in celebrating this significant milestone. In honor of the occasion, I would like to submit into the Record a detailed historical overview provided by the church chronicling its incredible growth throughout Calvary's many years of spiritual service to families in Bellflower and throughout the world.

A History of Calvary Baptist Church in Bellflower

(By the Calvary Baptist Church)

In September, 1935, a group of 14 believers, led by

Reverend True H. Maxfield, sought to start a place of worship

in the Bellflower area after holding a successful tent

meeting. A lot located at Santa Ana and Mayne was purchased

for $275. Two months later, on November 11, 1935, a group of

men began erecting a small building that would become The

First Fundamental Church of Bellflower.

In 1943, the church changed its name to Calvary Baptist

Church of Bellflower. By 1949, the church boasted 175 members

and new property was purchased--``way out in the country''--

on Ardis Avenue. It was there that volunteers built the new

church, which held its first service on December 23, 1949. A

farming community at the time, Bellflower would not become

the 59th city in the County of Los Angeles until 1957.

In 1950, the church membership nearly doubled to 340 and

additional property around the church was purchased. Seven

years later, in 1957, Calvary expanded its ministry to

support the Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO. The

church also supported the Pima Indians in Arizona.

On June 16, 1963, after several years of leadership

changes, Dr. H. Frank Collins and his family began their

ministry at Calvary. Building on the church's rich history of

reaching out to the community, Dr. Collins led the church to

purchase a bus to provide members without transportation the

opportunity to come to Calvary to worship. At its peak, this

effort would grow to include 17 buses, transporting nearly

600 people to church weekly.

During Dr. Collins' 26-year ministry, he led the church

through its largest expansion in buildings, membership and

outreach. Unfortunately, rising costs would eventually end

the church's bus ministry, as well as its television (Channel

9) and radio programming (on KGER 1390 AM).

Calvary, however, continued to grow in other ways.

In 1984, the completion of the H. Frank Collins/Calvary

Baptist Church Family Center enabled the church to expand its

ministry for its members and the community. This multi-

purpose facility contains classrooms, a board room,

counseling rooms, office space, a full-service kitchen,

showers, gymnasium, and banquet seating for approximately 400

people.

Upon Dr. Collins' retirement in May 1990, Dr. Michael

Kalapp became Calvary's new pastor. Under his leadership,

Bible-centered life groups, and one-on-one mentorship

programs were launched.

Four years later, when Calvary purchased the last remaining

parcel of property on what is today the church campus,

Calvary realized its dream of having a Missions home. Today,

the facility serves as a Missions House and Missions

Apartment, giving the church's missionaries a place to rest

while in the United States. During the first decade of this

century, Calvary was instrumental in the planting of new

churches in Sauharita, AZ; Banning, CA; and Boston, MA.

Calvary has also given more than $1.5 million to missionary

work in far reaching places such as Africa, China, Japan and

the Philippines.

Calvary's growing ministries encompass a wide variety of

community programs and initiatives. On a weekly basis,

Calvary provides the facilities and works with other local

churches to feed, shower, and cloth people who are homeless.

Church members donate food for its food pantry that serves

more than 100 families a year. This Thanksgiving, church

members will serve dinner to more than 500 people in the

community. To help individuals fighting addictions, Calvary

operates a ``Celebrate Recovery'' church-based spiritual

support program. The church also provides space for weekly

Nicotine and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. This past October,

more than a thousand people from throughout the area enjoyed

a free fun-filled day of games, face painting and other

activities at its annual Harvest Festival. The church also

hosted the Children's Summer Spectacular--a day camp for more

than 60 children from throughout the community that includes

Bible study, field trips and other activities. Parishioners

also donate the labor, supplies and funds each year to

``makeover'' homes to members in need.

To raise funds for its missionaries, Calvary holds a

Christmas boutique in late October. Handmade items by

parishioners are sold at the annual boutique to raise funds

for the church's mission work in this country and around the

world. This year's boutique raised more than $7,000. Calvary

also holds a parking lot sale featuring donated items by

church members to raise funds for its missions. This year's

event generated $3,000.

As Calvary celebrates its 75 year anniversary, the church

is extremely proud that its central message to its

congregation since its founding ``way out in the country''

has always remained devoutly the same: to ``LOVE GOD, LOVE

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 125th anniversary of Good Samaritan Hospital located in Downtown Los Angeles in my congressional district.

Since 1885, when the hospital was founded as a 9-bed infirmary by Sister Mary Wood, the hospital has been fulfilling its mission to provide accessible, quality, cost-effective and compassionate health services to the community.

A year after its founding, the facility adopted its current-day name in tribute to a Good Samaritan--Mrs. Mark Severance--who donated $4,000 for the purchase of land for the construction of its first hospital building.

Today, Good Samaritan Hospital located at 616 South Witmer Street in Downtown Los Angeles is much more than a community hospital. With 408 licensed beds, the hospital has earned a reputation as a world-class academic medical center that is affiliated with the USC Keck School of Medicine.

For 4 years in a row, Good Samaritan has been recognized as ``One of America's 50 Best Hospitals'' by HealthGrades, Inc., the nation's leading independent health care ratings company. U.S. News & World Report also recognized Good Samaritan as one of ``America's Best Hospitals for Top Medical Care in 16 Specialties'' in 1998.

In addition to providing outstanding diagnostic, surgical and therapeutic care in a state-of-the-art setting, Good Samaritan supports eight Centers of Excellence that focus on advancing the science of medicine while providing outstanding patient care. The hospital's acclaimed oncology program, for example, offers the widest range of options for gynecological, breast, brain and prostate cancers.

Under the leadership of Charles T. Munger, head of the hospital's Board of Trustees, and Andrew B. Leeka, the hospital's president and chief executive officer, Good Samaritan admits approximately 17,000 patients annually (excluding births, which would add approximately 3,600 more to the total) and handles more than 93,500 outpatient visits. More than 7,500 surgeries are performed annually in 18 surgical suites.

Good Samaritan is also a sizeable employer in the community. The hospital employs more than 1,500 employees, including approximately 650 physicians and 550 nurses on its medical staff. Together, the medical staff and employees speak more than 54 languages and dialects, a direct reflection of the hospital's international reputation and diverse patient base.

The broad range of renowned medical services and programs at Good Samaritan include the Heart Institute, which offers a complete heart care program including invasive and non-invasive cardiology, electrophysiology and cardiothoracic surgery. The Neurosciences program features Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for brain tumors. The Orthopedic Institute combines many subspecialties together in one centralized location designed to take care of any orthopedic problem including serious injuries to the pelvis, hip and knees.

The hospital also offers specialized medical services that include a state-of-the-art Gastroenterology Program, Women's Health Services (obstetrics, gynecology, gynecologic-oncology, perinatology, neonatal intensive care, breast care and assisted reproductive services), Ophthalmologic care (including retinal surgery), Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) treatment, comprehensive Oncology Services (including High-Dose Rate and IMRT treatment), the busiest Kidney Stone Service in the western U.S., and a Transfusion-Free Medicine & Surgery Center.

Other special services include housing accommodations for patients and families at the Weingart Guest House located on the hospital campus and specialized ground and air transport programs for critically ill cardiac and maternity patients. Plans are also underway for the completion of the hospital's new Medical Plaza & Outpatient Pavilion in 2012.

Good Samaritan also provides significant community outreach. In the last Community Benefit Plan update, the quantifiable costs to Good Samaritan Hospital for its community benefits activities totaled more than $21.4 million, including unreimbursed medical care, services to vulnerable populations, and funding for health research, education and training.

Madam Speaker, I have had the privilege of working closely with Good Samaritan Hospital over the years. I have seen firsthand the important role the hospital plays in improving the health of our communities and I am very proud to have a top-notch hospital such as Good Samaritan in my district.

I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating Good Samaritan on its 125th anniversary of serving the health care needs of families in our community and I extend to this world class medical facility, and all of the individuals who make it the success that it is today, many more years of healing, growth and innovation.